Filling valve



c. E. KERR' FILLING VALVE June 13, 1939.

Filed Nov. 18, 1956 2*Sheets -Sl"1eet l INVENTOR. CAar/es E. Kerr 5 BY D ORNEY June 13, 1939. c. E. KERR ,1

FILLING VALVE Filed Nov. 18, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @w an ml I.\

INVENTOR. Char/e5 f. Xerxkcmy.

Patented June 13,1939 I a 2,162,404

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Charles E. Kerr, Hoopeston, nl., assignor to Food Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Ca a corporation of Delaware I Application November; 18,1936, Serial No. 111,356 20 claims. KC]. 226-108) The present invention relates to filling macan which is lifted into filling position. by the chines, and more particularly to the provision of can lift mechanism of the filling machine. Prefan improved liquid filling valve for dispensing of erably, the operation or the liquid filling valve is liquid int a a made responsive -to the lifting of the can so that 7 -It is a general object of the invention to pro-'- itis an automatic no-can-no-flll valve. vide a liquid filling valve, which will accurately The filling machine includes tank l0, only a dispense measured amounts or liquid and is caort on of wh ch is s n in in the bottom pable of efficient operation over a long period or of which one or more similar valves II are mount- ,time. Y ed. Only one such valve is shown and described 1o Another object of' the invention is to provide. i hi appli i n. b t it will be understood that a liquid filling valve of improved construction, in if desired, a series of s Valves y. be m unt which the control for measured amounts of liquid around the p r p ry of h n 88 is convenis efi'ected in imple m nt m n tional in filling machines of this character.

Another object of the invention is toprovide j The liquid fi valve includes 8 e ufi a valve of the character described, which can chamber andavalve slide movable relative there- 15 be operated on the air cut-off principle 11 1 to; to control theflowot air and liquid into and sired ior'use in filling containers to a desired Out of the measuring mb both from the level. tank and to the can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Th valve incl des measuring chamber I2 valve of the character described, which fills cans "w is f ed y c lindrical shell I! (Fig. 1) 20 without any dripping f liquid ft r th fillin having cover I seated thereon and detachably operation, I secured thereto by ring l5. Cover M has thread- Another object or the invention is to provide a red eng sement within the bottom wall of tank liquid filling valve constructed for economical 1 Mtos e' va e in assembled pos o on manufacture and assembly. the tank.

. 25 Other objects will be apparent from the 101-" At its owe end-s e 3 i p ovided wit an- -lowing description with reference to the drawings i ed ottom Wall 16. the aperture beinB de-' illustrating '-a preferred embodiment of my infi ed y l ve ex en i n ll of wall It. Cover ventio I4 is also provided with a central aperture, within In th drawings: which the upper end of sleeve l8 is pressed. so 30 Fig. l is a vertical section through a liquid that the sleeve extends downwardly within shell filling valve constructed in a o d ith my l3 and into chamber l2 in alignment with sleeve invention, the'view being indicated by the line extension ll. 'Sleeve 18 andsleeve extension I! ll in Fig. 3. j are slidahly engaged by valve slide-2i which fits Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrates closely therein. To guide valve slide II for vertithe valve in can filling position with the can enjcal sliding movement only, sleeve It has cap gaged therewith. v screw l8a threaded therein and having its re- Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the liquid duced inner end engaged with vertical groove 2 la filling valve wh ch is taken at right angles to the in' slide .2 I. The lower position of valve 2| when section shown in Fig. 1 as indicated by the line 'the valve is closed, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is 'de- 40 in 'termined by the engagement of annular shoulder a'secfion 1 3 with the 22 thereon with a seat at the top of sleeve exvalve shown in can filhng position, aportion of tension- H. 3: valve Shae gg brokenhawaf to 3 one of Valve slide 2| extends through sleeve extension 2 f fi' iggf g agg q g i in 3 lland has reduced end" on which actuating a 3 ingicated by the m e 5 5 in g '3 en sleeve 24 is mounted for engagement within sleeve Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken in a extensmn H z a 2 plane indicated by the line 64 in mg. v of the valve, actua ng s eeve sea aga en Fig 7 is a horizontal sectional View taken in plate 28 threaded on an. end extension of the 50 lane indicated b t line 1 m valve slide. Actuating sleeve 2| has a lost moa lhe present inver ltion is concerned with filling tion connection .wlth the v e de. bein macl'lines of the type in which a, liquid filling mounted for free movement. between plate 28 -valve receives liquid from a source of supply, such and shoulder 35 at the upper. end of reduced end is as -ia .tank,,'and dispenses such liquid into a 4 portion 23 of the valve'slide. At its lower end actuating sleeve 24 carries lift plate 23 threaded thereon for vertical adjustment.

As is common in this type of valve, the can 23 is carried by lifting mechanism 30 of conventional construction and the engagement of a can with can lift plate 26, illustrated in Fig. 2, serves to move the valve from closed to can filling position. By virtue of the improved construction of my invention, such movement is utilized to efi'ect accurate filling of each can with a desired amount of liquid without after-dripping, the return of the valve slide to normal position being effected by the release of the can lift plate by the can.

In the lowered position of the valve slide, the valve is in communication with the tank and is filled with liquid which preferably is introduced into the bottom of the measuring chamber while the air in the chamber is vented from'the top thereof.

As seen in Fig. 3, the upper part of valve slide 2| is provided 'with longitudinallyextending passages 3| by means of which the liquid in tank In can fiow down through sleeve l8 and into the bottom of chamber l2. At the same time, the air is vented from the top of the chamber through aperture 32 in sleeve I3 and vent passage 33 of slide 2| which registers with aperture 32 in the lowered position of the valve slide. Passage 33 communicates at its upper end with vent pipe 34 which extends upwardly above the level of the liquid in the tank. From the above description, it will be noted that each time the valve slide is in its lowered position, the tank is placed in communication with the measuring chamber to permit flow of liquid from the tank to the lower end of the chamber. Also, the chamber is placed in communication with the atmosphere by a ham;

passage leading from the upper end thereof to vent air from the chamber as it is being filled by the fiow of liquid from the tank.

In the lifted position of the valve slide, the tank and the atmosphere are cut off from the measuring chamber, which is connected directly to the can so that the measured charge is dispensed ihto the can and the air from the can is vented into the measuring chamber. When the can is raised to engage and lift the plate 26, actuating sleeve 24 is moved up on the valve slide with the lift plate untilthe frusto-conical upper end of the actuatingsleeve' engages a complementary shoulder 33 on the slide, which is then lifted during the further movement of the sleeve.

As seen in Figs. 3 and 4 the valve slide is provided at its lower end with passages 33 of which there are four in the illustrated embodiment as seen in Fig. 7. In the lowered position of the valve slide illustrated in Fig. 3, i. e., during filling of the chamber from the tank; passages 36 are closed at the top'by sleeve extension I! and are closed at the bottom by actuating sleeve 24 which is engaged with its seat on end plate 23.

In the raised position of the valve slide as seen in Fig. 4, the valve slide is withdrawn into sleeve l8 to close es 3|, such slightly before the upper edges of passages 33 communicate with the chamber I2. The closing M o so: from the tank to the chamber. In the raised position of the slide, actuating sleeve 24 has been lifted relatively to the valve slide to open the lower ends of passages 33 and permit the flow of liquid from chamber |2 into the can, as indicated bythearrowsinl'lgi- Asaeenmoreclearlyinl 'lgs. 1and2,'the valve closing being eifectedv es 3| serves to cut off the supply of liquid of the valve slide, the upper end of passage 31 registers with annular vent passage 38 in sleeve 8 which establishes communication between vent passage 31 and air vent passage 39 of the valve slide. Vent passage 33 communicates at its upper end with ventpipe 40 extending above the level of the liquid in tank I. In this connection, it is tobe noted that, as the can withdraws, valve slide 2| and actuating sleeve 24 will move downwardly as a unit with the can so that shoulder 21 of the valve slide will engage its seat before the actuating sleeve completes its movement and closes the lower ends of filling passages 36 and vent passage 31. Thus, the upper end of vent passage 3'! will become operatively associated with annular v'ent passage 38 before sleeve 24 closes the lower end of vent passage 31. This occurs before the can is withdrawn from beneath the valve and by this means, any liquid which may have been drawn up into passage 3'! is drained back out into the can so that passage 31 is opentop of the chamber through passage 33 and vent pipe 34 which opens into the atmosphere. When a can engages the can lift plate to raise actuating sleeve 24 on the valve slidethe lower ends of filling passages 36 and vent passage 31 are opened,

and the actuating sleeve engages shoulder 35 on the valve slide which then moves upwardly with the sleeve. During the lifting of the valve slide, the chamber filling passages 3| and vent passage 33 are first closed by the valve slide as it moves upwardly within sleeve l3. Subsequently, the upward movement of the valve slide serves to move the upper ends of passages 3| out of sleeve extension into communication with the chamber, so that the liquid can fiow from the chamber into the can. At the same time, the upper end of vent passage 31 is placed in communication with the upper end of the chamber, whereby the air from quently closed by the sleeve which engages its seat to prevent after dripping.

In order to provide for the filling of various size cans or .for the filling of various amounts of liquid into the same can, an adjustment is provided for varying the capacity of the measuring chamber. For this purpose, shell I3 is provided with lateral sleeve extension 48 which is threaded to receive cup-shaped cap 41 carrying plug" slidable within sleeve 43; By adjusting cap 41, plug 48 can be moved in or out of chamber 12 to vary the'capacity thereof.

If desired, the liquid filling valve can be used as an air cut-off valve for filling cans to a desired level and in this connection it will be noted that liquid will cease to flow from the measuring chamber into the can when the liquid in the can covers the lower end of vent passage 31 seen in the position shown in Fig. 2. This level can be varied by screwing lift plate 26 up or down along sleeve 24. In' connection with this type of operation, the operation of the valve slide and the actuating sleevein providing for draining of vent passage 31 byestablishing communication between the upper end thereof with annular passage 38 before the lower end thereof is closed is particularly advantageous, because it is desirable that passage 31 be entirely free of liquid at the beginning-of each filling operation.

. While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that such invention can be embodied in other forms. The scope of my invention, therefore, should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a valve for filling containers with liquid from a tank, a measuring chamber, and a valve member movable relative to said chamber having passage means for controlling the flow of liquid and air to and from said chamber; said passage means lncuding a chamber filling 'pas-' sage for admitting liquid from .the tank to the chamber in a lowered position of said valve member, a chamber vent passage for venting air from said chamber in said lowered position of said valve member, a container filling passage for flow of liquid from the chamber to a container in a raised position of said. valve member, and a container vent passage for fiow of air from a container into the chamber in said raised position of the valve member.

2. In a valve for filling containers with liquid from a tank, a measuring chamber, a valve member movable relative to said chamber having passage means for controlling the flow of liquid and air to and from said chamber; said passage means including a chamber filling passage for admitting liquid from the tank to the chamber in a lowered position of said valve member, and a passage for venting air from said chamber in said lowered position of said valve member with said chamber otherwise closed; and lift means carried by said valve member to provide for upward movement thereof in response to engagement of a container with said lift means, whereby to move said valve member to container filling position.

3. In a valve for filling containers with liquid 1 from a tank, a measuring chamber, means for varying the capacity ofsaid chamber, a valve member movable relative to'said chamber having passage means for controlling the fiow of liquid and air to and from said chamber; said passage means including a chamber filling passage for admitting liquid from the tank to the chamber in a lowered position of said valve member,

and a passage for venting air from said cham her in said lowered position of said valve member with said chamber otherwise closed: and lift means carried by said valve member to provide for upward movement thereof in response to engagement of a container with said lift means, whereby to move said valve member to container filling position.

4. In a valve for filling containers with liquid from a tank, a measuring chamber, means for varying the capacity of said chamber, and a valve member movable relative to said chamber having passage means for controlling the flow of liquid and air to and from said chamber; said passage means including a chamber filling passage for admitting liquid from the tank to the chamber in a lowered position of said valve member, a chamber vent passage for venting air from said chamber in said'lowered position of said valve member, a container filling passage for flow of liquid from the chamber to a container in a raised position of said valve member, and a container vent passage for flow of air from a container into. the chamber in said raised position'of the valve member.

5. In a valve for filling containers with liquid from a tank, a measuring chamber having an apertured bottom wall, a sleeve extending into said chamber from the upper end thereof and having its lower end spaced from said bottom wall, and a valve member slidably received in said sleeve and in said apertureandhavin'g passage means,

cooperating with said sleeve and said chamber to form the sole means for controlling the flow of air and liquid in and out of said chamber, said passage means including a container vent passage for flow of air from a container to said chamber during the filling of the container.

6. In a valve for filling containers with liquid from a tank, a measuring chamber having an apertured bottom wall, a sleeve, extending into ward movement thereof in response to engagement of a container with said lift means, whereby to move said valve member to .container filling position- 7. In a valve for filling containers with liquid from a tank, a measuring chamber having an apertured bottom wall, a sleeve extending into said chamber from the upper end thereof, and a valve member slidably received in said sleeve and said aperture, said valve member having a set of of said valve member to introduce liquid into the bottomof said chamber and to vent air from the top of said chamber, and having another set of passage means operative in a raised position of said valve member to conduct liquid from said chamber to a container and to vent air from said container to the top of said chamber. a

8. In a valve for filling containers with liquid from a tank, a measuring chamber, and a valve.

member movable relative to said chamber having passage means for controlling the flow of liquid and air to and from said chamber; said passage means including a chamber filling passage in communication with the tank and opening into the bottom of said chamber in a lowered position of said valve member, a container filling passage for flow of liquid from. the chamber to a 0911-. tainer in a raised position of said valve member and a container vent passage for flow. of air from a container into the top of the chamber in said raised position of the valve member.

9. Ina valve for filling containers with liquid passage means operative in a lowered position iromatankameasuringchamberhavingan apertured bottom wall, a sleeveextending into said chamber from the upper end thereof and spaced from said bottom wall. a valve member slidably received in said sleeve and in said apersaid valvemember in a lowered position thereof closing said aperture and establishing communicatim from the tank through said sleeve to said chamber, and in a raised position thereof closing said sleeve and establishing two pathsof communication from saidchamber throughsaid valve member to a container, one of said paths providing for flow of liquid from said chamber to the container and the otherof the paths viding for flow of air from the container tothe ,andliftmeanscarriedbysaid valve manber to provide for upward movement thereof in recourse to engagement of a container with said lift means, whereby to move said valve member to container filling position.

10. In a valve for filling containers with liquid from a tank, a measuring chamber having an apertured bottom wall, a sleeve extending into ber, said valve member in a lo said chamber from. the upper end thereof and spacedfromsaidbottomwalLavalvemember slidably received in said sleeve and in said apertureand having a shoulder seating on said bottom wall in a lowered position of said alve mem position thereof closing said aperture and establishing comnninication from the tank through said sleeve to said chamber, and in a raised position thereof closing said sleeve and establishing two paths of communication from said chamber through said valve member to a container, one of. said paths providing'for flow of liquid from said chamber to the container and the other of the paths providing for fiow of air from the container tothe chamber, andliftmeanscarried bysaid valve member to provide for upward movement thereof in response to engagement of a container with said lift means, whereby to move said valve member to container filling position.

11. In a filling valve, a chamber, and a valve member movable relative to said chamber to control dispensing of liquid therefrom, said valve member in the dispensing position thereof providing separate es for fiow of liquid from said chamber to a container and flow of air from the container to said chamber with said chamber otherwise closed, and means for the upper end of said-air-flow with the atmosphere in the non-dispensing position of saidvalve member.

12. A filling valve comprising a cylindrical shell providing a liquid chamber and having a sleeve extension formed in the bottom'wall thereof, a valve sleeve mounted in the other end of said shell extending into said chamber in axial alignment with said sleeve extension, a valve slide mounted for nnvvement in said valve sleeve and said sleeve extension, and having a shoulder seating on said bottmn wall, the lower end portion of said slide cooperating with said sleeve extension having a reduced diameter forming a shoulder at the uppinend thereof, an actuating sleeve slidably mounted on said valve slide end and within said sleeve extension, andan end plate mounted at the extremity of said slide end portion, and filming a seat for said actuating sleeve spaced fromsaid end portion shoulder a greater distance than the length of said actuating sleeve to provide a lost motion connection between said valve slide and said actuatingsleeve.

13.Aiillirnvalvecomprisingacylindricalshell providing a liquid chamber and having a sleeve extension formed in the bottom wall thereof, a valve slide extending through said shell and mounted for movement in-said sleeve extension, and having a shoulder seating on said bottom well. said valve slide including means for controlling the fiow of liquid to and from said chamber,rthe lower end portion'of said slide cooperating with said sleeve extension having a reduced diameter forming a shoulder at the upper end thereof, an actuating sleeve slidably mounted on said valve slide end and within said sleeve extension, and an end plate mounted at the extremity of said slide end portion and forming a seat for said actuating sleeve spaced from said end portion shoulder a greater distance than the length of said actuating sleeve to provide a lost motion connection between said valve slide and said actuating sleeve.

14. In a valve for filling containers with liquid from a tank, a measuring chamber, and a valve member slidably passing entirely through said measuring chamber and having isolated ports for controlling the e of liquid and air into and from said chamber in response to reciprocation of said valve member by an associated con tainer, one of said ports providing for venting of air from a container into said measuring chamber during the'filling of the container.

15. In a valve for filling containers with liquid from a tank, a measuring chamber, and a valve member mounted for sliding movement-in said chamber and extending therethrough, said valve member having separate passages for the flow of liquid and air into said chamber and other separate passages for the fiow of liquid and air from said chamber, one of said ports providing for venting of air from a container into said measuring chamber din-ing the filling of the container. 16. In a valve for filling containers by a gravity how of liquid from an open tank, a measuring chamber having an apertured bottom wall, a sleeve extending into said chamber from the upper end thereof, a valve member slidably received in said sleeve and in said aperture and cooperating with said sleeve and said chamber to control the flow of air and liquid in and out of said chamber, said valve member including passage means communicating with said chamber and the atmosphere in the chamber filling position of said valve member, and lift means carried by said valve member to provide for upward movement thereof in response to engagement of a container with said lift means, whereby to move said valve member to container filling position. i

17. In a valve for filling containers with liquid from a tank, a cylindrical shell providing a measuring chamber and having an opening in the bottom wall thereof, a valve slide extending through said shell and said opening for sliding movement relative thereto, said valve slide including means for controlling the fiow of liquid to and from said chamber, a shoulder on said valve slide for engagement with said bottom wall, an actuating sleeve slidably mounted on the lowerend of said valve slide, and 'a pair of opposed seats on said valve slide for cooperation with the respective ends of said actuating sleeve, said seats being spaced apart to provide a lost motion connection between said sleeve and said slide.

18. In a valve for filling containers with liquid from a tank by a gravity flow of liquid in response to engagement of the container with the valve, a measuring chamber, a valve member slidably passing entirely through said measuring chamber and having isolated ports for controlling the passage of liquid and air into and from said chamber in response to reciprocation of said valve member by an associated container, and a ring mounted on said valve member for engagement with a container during the filling operation.

19. In a valve for filling containers with liquidv 3 from a tank, a shell providing a measuring chamber and having an openingin the bottom wall thereof, a valve slide extending through said shell and said opening for sliding movement relative thereto, said valve slide including means for controlling the flow of liquid from said chamber.

means limiting the downward movement of said valve slide, and. actuating means slidably mounted on and having a lost motion connection with said slide adjacent the lower end thereof.

said passage means.

of said valve slide, passage means in said valve slide for flow of liquid from said measuring chamber into a container, said passage means discharging from the side wall of said slide, and an actuating sleeve slidably engaged with and having a lost motion connection with said slide to control opening and closing of the lower end of CHARLES E. KERR. 

